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UMW Philharmonic Featured in PBS Holiday Special

The University of Mary Washington Philharmonic Orchestra makes its PBS debut in the holiday special “A Fiddler’s Holiday,” set to air on PBS stations across the country throughout the holiday season.

The Jay Ungar and Molly Mason Family Band and the UMW Philharmonic Orchestra are featured in a PBS holiday special

The concert, filmed during the Philharmonic’s 2011 holiday pops concert and produced by four-time Emmy winner Jim Brown, features the Jay Ungar and Molly Mason Family Band. During post-production this past spring, UMW Philharmonic Director Kevin Bartram pitched the show to the PBS, which approved the show for national distribution this Christmas.

“I told him that the show is about the acoustic fiddle traditions that Ungar is known for, family warmth and musical fun,” Bartram said. “They said yes to the project, and we look forward to seeing it air.”

The 60-minute special includes scenes of downtown Fredericksburg during the holidays, as well as footage of UMW and other historic sites. The program will air more than 200 times, including on the nation’s largest PBS affiliates. Locally, it aired on Richmond affiliate WCVE, Charlottesville affiliate WHTJ and Blue Ridge PBS on Sunday, Nov. 25. WETA in Washington, D.C., will air it on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 10:30 p.m. and on Thursday, Dec. 6 at 3:30 p.m. The special also has aired internationally, as far away as Canada and Costa Rica. Beginning on Thursday, Nov. 29, DVDs and CDs of the program will be available at http://philharmonic.umw.edu/ or (540) 654-1324.